Drugs suspected in death of missing Round Lake Park mom

Police are investigating whether drugs played a role in the death of a Round Lake Park mother, who was found in her van more than a week after she disappeared after dropping off her daughter at a friend's house.

Opiates were found in the body of Melissa Best, but police said they were hoping an autopsy would show whether she died of an overdose.

Best, 34, was found Monday night in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the area of Illinois Highway 120 and U.S. Highway 45.

Police believe Best drove to Waukegan on April 15, the day she disappeared, and died there that day, according to Round Lake Police Chief George Filenko. He said Best drove "to a certain location and at that point something went wrong."

Best's body was found Monday night in the back seat of her van in the parking lot. "Someone drove her there," he said, adding that no drug paraphernalia was found in the van.

Two people she met in Waukegan are being investigated for possibly concealing the death, he said at a news conference this morning. He provided no details but said the people were cooperating with the police.

He said he didn't know if Best had a history of using drugs but did have one with alcohol.

There were no outward signs of trauma on Best’s body, according to Lake County Coroner Artis Yancey. The autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.